A fake IW329172 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40. The genuine watch has a 40.4 mm stainless steel case, IWC calibre 82200 with Pellaton winding, a 60-hour power reserve and a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. Copies sell for $250 to $900. Real watches start near $7,000 at retail.
IWC does not publish a full public breakdown of every suffix in the IW3291 family. Public reference indexes place IW32917x numbers in the Portugieser Automatic 40 line, and the dial color and strap change with the suffix. Confirm the exact configuration with IWC or an authorized dealer before you pay.
Specs the copy has to match
- Case: steel, 40.4 mm across, about 10.6 mm thick
- Movement: calibre 82200, automatic, Pellaton winding, 60-hour reserve
- Dial: small seconds at 6, applied numerals
- Crystal: sapphire front and back
- Water resistance: 5 bar
Measure the case first
Use a caliper, not a photo. A copy that reads 41 mm or 42 mm is wrong. Check thickness at the case middle. Copies add metal to fit a third-party movement and a spacer ring, so the watch sits taller than the real one and the lugs look thicker from the side.
Caseback and engraving
Genuine casebacks carry the reference and serial numbers in crisp, shallow engraving. Copies show deeper cuts with rounded edges and uneven spacing between digits. Compare the numeral font against a catalogue photo at the same scale.
Dial checks
Look at the small seconds recess. On genuine dials the subdial sits in a cut recess with a clean step. Copies print a flat ring or use a sticker. Check the printing under 10x magnification: stroke weight on the text should be even, with no ink bleed onto the dial surface.
Applied indices should sit flat against the dial and reflect light along one edge. Loose or tilted markers are a reject.
Movement
Ask for a clear photo of the movement through the caseback. Calibre 82200 uses IWC's Pellaton winding system, with a pawl and wheel in place of standard reverser gears. Replicas use bought-in automatic movements, and the engraved rotor plate sits over a bridge layout that does not match.
If the seller will not send a movement photo, walk away.
Price and paperwork
A "new" IW329172 at $1,200 is a copy. Full-set genuine examples with box and papers trade above $5,000. Look for a warranty card with a serial that matches the caseback, a dealer stamp, and service records from an IWC service center.
Be wary of listings marked "sample," "factory second" or "unworn, no box." Those terms hide a missing serial history.
What you cannot check from photos
Crown action, rotor noise, winding feel and lume application do not photograph. A watchmaker can open the case and identify the movement in minutes. Budget for that inspection before you send money.